We Languish for Men
The Church needs men who are bold, willing to die for their faith, and motivated by high motives.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the urgent need for bold and selfless men in the Church, who are willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Gospel, as exemplified by Paul's readiness to face death for Christ. He calls for men who are free from worldly allurements and external pressures, driven solely by divine compulsion and high motives. Tozer argues that such men will restore prophetic voices in the pulpit, serving God and humanity without fear, financial motives, or the desire for recognition. He challenges listeners to seek transformation to become these courageous individuals, dedicated to serving God wholeheartedly.
Text
Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." --Acts 21:13
The Church at this moment needs men, the right kind of men, bold men....
We languish for men who feel themselves expendable in the warfare of the soul, who cannot be frightened by threats of death because they have already died to the allurements of this world. Such men will be free from the compulsions that control weaker men. They will not be forced to do things by the squeeze of circumstances; their only compulsion will come from within--or from above.
This kind of freedom is necessary if we are to have prophets in our pulpits again instead of mascots. These free men will serve God and mankind from motives too high to be understood by the rank and file of religious retainers who today shuttle in and out of the sanctuary. They will make no decisions out of fear, take no course out of a desire to please, accept no service for financial considerations, perform no religious act out of mere custom; nor will they allow themselves to be influenced by the love of publicity or the desire for reputation. Of God and Men, 11-13.
"Lord, what would it take for me to be that kind of man? Do in me whatever work You need to do today, that I might die to the allurements of the world and serve You with high motives. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Need for Men
- The Church languishes for men who are bold and willing to die for their faith
- The kind of men we need are expendable in the warfare of the soul
Key Quotes
“We languish for men who feel themselves expendable in the warfare of the soul, who cannot be frightened by threats of death because they have already died to the allurements of this world.” — A.W. Tozer
“These free men will serve God and mankind from motives too high to be understood by the rank and file of religious retainers who today shuttle in and out of the sanctuary.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We need to die to the allurements of the world and serve God with high motives.
- We should not make decisions out of fear or a desire to please, but rather out of a desire to serve God.
- We should be willing to take a stand for our faith, even if it means facing threats or persecution.